Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says people who think team favour Kimi Antonelli over George Russell are 'brainless' and should 'watch Teletubbies'

Antonelli has defied pre-season expectations to build an 84-point lead over Russell at the top of the Drivers' Championship with just seven races remaining, including this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

Wolff offered a scathing response to the suggestion Mercedes do not treat their drivers equally, which included a reference to criticism the team previously faced from Lewis Hamilton fans before the seven-time world champion left to join Ferrari.

"They're brainless, whoever thinks that," Wolff said on Friday in Singapore.

"It's completely nonsensical. We've had it in the past with Lewis fans."

Russell will start from the back of the grid in Singapore after an engine failure last weekend in Malaysia forced him into taking a penalty.

The Brit also confirmed on Thursday that he is likely to have to incur a further grid penalty before the end of the season given the position he has been left in by multiple technical failures.

Antonelli has also suffered from poor reliability this season, with technical issues costing the 20-year-old significant points hauls in Barcelona and at Silverstone.

Despite the problems, Mercedes are closing in on a first constructors' title since 2021, as they hold a 151-point lead over Ferrari at the top of the standings.

Wolff continued: "I don't know what's going on. Do they think I have a button that says, 'George, engine failure now?'

"Or disadvantaging one driver against the other when we're fighting for the Constructors' Championship, when we've always had the mindset of providing everybody with equal material."

The Austrian suggested the situation is potentially a product of the way social media is used, but insisted that he is ultimately amused by it.

"I guess this is maybe where social media goes today," he added. "People hide behind their screens and then they lash out. There's a lot of polarisation going on.

"Sometimes I read what people write, I find it hilarious. These people really contribute to my own entertainment when they're abusing the team or myself. I'm Satan, I've heard. Overall, funny.

"Zero understanding and respect for people who come up with these things. Rather than watching Formula 1, they should do Teletubbies, or some Mickey Mouses."

'I feel a lot of emotions and compassion for George'

Wolff offered a further response to the idea that he favours Antonelli by revealing elements of the close relationship he and his wife Susie Wolff share with Russell and the Brit's partner Carmen Montero Mundt.

He said: "We have had Kimi since he was 11. He's integral part of the team. It's very nice to see him grow, be in a position now that he's fighting for a championship at such a young age, the talent he has.

"On the other side, George, who's been with us since he was 17. Someone that I feel a lot of, how can I say, emotions for and compassion.

"We are very close. We spend time with Carmen and Susie off the track with each other. If people would see that we're traveling together, we're having coffee in the same coffee shop, we're going in a gym.

"That's why it's pretty annoying to have some lunatics that have no understanding really about how relationships work coming up with these kind of accusations. I don't pay any attention to this.

"Most important is that George knows how the team is, and Kimi knows, and we will always try to give them equal opportunity."

Saturday October 10 9am: Singapore GP Sprint build-up* 10am: Singapore GP SPRINT* 1pm: Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying build-up 2pm: SINGAPORE GP QUALIFYING* 4pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday October 11 11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up 1pm: THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP reaction 4pm: Ted's Notebook

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